Plier-type tool for orthodontists

ABSTRACT

An orthodontic plier-type tool is disclosed in which jaws are formed to bend a wire into the desired open or closed loop sizes as determined for the particular arch wire to be used in the mouth of the patient. The jaws of this plier include a mating conically shaped male and female wire bending or straightening means. In one embodiment is shown wire cutting means carried by the jaws, thus requiring only one tool to be used to cut and form an arch wire as used by the orthodontist in his task of straightening children&#39;&#39;s teeth.

United States Patent [191 Goldberg 51 Apr. 17, 1973 PLIER-TYPE TOOL FOR ORTHODONTISTS [76] Inventor: Louis Goldberg, 68 Lincoln Terrace, Harrington Park, NJ. 07640 [22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 246,931

52 US. Cl... ..32/66 [51] Int. Cl. ..A61c 7/00 [58] Field of Search ..32/66, 40, 14 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,108,493 '8/1914 Federspiel ..32/66 1,299,103 4/l9l9 Angle ..32/66 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Attorney-Ralph R. Roberts [5 7 ABSTRACT An orthodontic plier-type tool is disclosed in which jaws are formed to bend a wire into the desired open or closed loop sizes as determined for the particular arch wire to be used in the mouth of the patient. The jaws of this plier include a mating conically shaped male and female wire bending or straightening means. In one embodiment is shown wire cutting means carried by the jaws, thus requiring; only one tool to be used to cut and form an arch wire as used by the orthodontist in his task of straightening childrens teeth.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures l PLIER-TYPE TOOL FOR ORTHODONTISTS BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention With reference to the classification of art as established in the US. Patent Office the tool of this invention is a plier-type tool specifically useful in the field of Orthodontics. This tool is found in the general class'of Dentistry and in the particular subclass of instrumentsorthodonticis, of course, pertinent.

forming of the arch wire used in the treatment is a more-or-less custom job requiring the ability of the orthodontist to form the wire.

In U.S. Pat. No. l,l08,493 to FEDERSPIEL as issued on Aug. 25th, l9l4 there is shown a plier-type bending tool in which several different size open loops may be formed. In the present art are known spring pliers in which the jaws are formed to permit open and closed loops to be formed. Such a tool is shown in advertisements such as by Rocky Mountain Dental Products Co. (P.O. Box 1887, Denver, Colo. 80201) and identified as Broussard I-94.

Insofar as is known, pliers of this type provide means to form the loops but there is no means to form or straighten the arch'in the wire. In the present invention the jaws are formed to not only provide means for forming the precise loops both open and closed but also has means provided in the jaws for forming and modifying the arch curve. In an alternate embodiment the plier tool is provided with an additional shear type wire cutter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention may be summarized at least in part by reference to its objects.

It is an object of this invention to provide, and it does provide, a plier-type hand tool for Orthodontists in which the jaws are complementarily formed to provide meansfor forming tempered wire into open and closed loops and having additionally complementarily formed male and female conical dies disposed to permit forming of the wire into an arch or for modifying the configuration ofthe wire.

It is another object of this invention to provide, and it does provide, an orthodontists plier-type tool in which one jaw has an outer portion formed with a series of progressively larger circular segments providing means for making closed circular loops of differing sizes. A mating jaw has a flat surface into which are formed a series of grooves, the jaw being of different widths so that wire laid and gripped in the groove is able to be bent at both ends of the groove to provide a determined length between bends. Also formed on and in the facing jaw portions are complementarily formed male and female conical dies disposed to permit bending of the wire into determined arch or modifying the curve in the wire.

The orthodontist tool of this invention is a pivoted plier-type unit of steel having unconventional handle portions and jaw portions. The jaw portions are formed so that they are closed to perform the desired gripping of a tempered arch wire as the wire is bent into open and closed loops and into a desired arch. Each jaw has mating grooves of which as combined units are different lengths and of a semicircular configuration disposed to grip a wire as it is bent. The length of the groove grips the wire to provide a straight leg of determined length and of an open loop. One jaw carries a male conically-shaped die segment while the other carries a female conically-shaped dlie segment which is compatible with the male die to form the wire into an arch curve. One jaw has its outer end formed as adjacent and sequentially smaller circular members providing the form for bending the wire into closed circular loops.

In addition to the above summary the following disclosure is detailed to insure adequacy and aid in understanding of the invention. This disclosure, however, is not intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how it may later be disguised by variations in form or additions of further improvements. For this reason there has been chosen a specific embodiment of the plier-type orthodontist wire forming tool as adopted for use in forming arch wires and showing a preferred means for forming the larger arch of the wire form. This specific embodiment and an alternate embodiment thereof have been chosen for the purposes of illustration and description as shown in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. l represents a side or plan viewof the plier-type tool of this invention;

FIG. 2 represents a partly fragmentary plan view of one of the jaws of the plier, this jaw having a male conical die portion;

FIG. 3 represents a side view of the jaw of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 represents a partly fragmentary plan view of the other jaw of the plier, this jaw having a female conical recess die portion disposed to mate with the male conical die portion of the otherjaw;

FIG. 5 represents a side view of the jaw of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 represents a sectional view of the jaw of FIG. 2, the view taken on the line 6-6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 represents a sectional'view of the other jaw, this view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 represents a side or plan view, partly fragmentary, of an alternate plier-type tool and showing the jaws additionally provided with wire cutting means, and

FIG. 9 represents a sectional view showing in particular the wire cutting portions carried by the jaws of the plier-type tool, the view taken on the line 99 of FIG. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the following description and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, are intended to be generic in their application. Corresponding reference characters refer to like members throughout the several figures of the drawing.

The drawing accompanying, and forming part of, this specification discloses certain details of construction for the purpose of explanation of the broader aspects of the invention, but it should be understood that structural details may be modified in various respects without departure from the concept and principles of the invention and that the invention may be incorporated in other structural forms than shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 1 THROUGH 7 Referring now in particular to the drawing and FIGS. 1 through 8 represented thereon the plier-type tool as shown in FIG. 1 is contemplated as being substantially full size. This tool includes right and left members and 16 which are pivotally retained by a pin or bolt 18. A curved handle portion 20 is preferably an integral portion of right-hand member 15. In like manner a curved handle portion 22 is a mirror image of handle portion 20 and is also preferably an integrally attached portion of left member 16. If desired, plastic grip protectors, not shown, may be and are usually provided on the curved handle portions 20 and 22.

Integral with and extending beyond pivot pin 18 is jaw portion 24 which is seen in greater detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. As seen in these FIGS. a jaw 24 is formed with a flat face portion 26 in which is formed a rear groove 28 and an intermediate groove 30. These grooves are of a like determined depth which may be slightly less than one-half the diameter of wire contemplated to be bent. This wire is usually about sixteenthousandths of an inch in diameter. These grooves are generally semicircular in configuration and at their ends are slightly radiused to permit the wire to be bent at substantially right angles without causing a weakening mark to be made in the wire where the bend occurs. The groove 28 may be about 2 millimeters longer than groove 30 but, of course, any length grooves can be provided by appropriately contouring the jaw to provide the desired jaw width. These grooves are at generally right angles to the center line of the jaw. At a reduced width area intermediate groove 30 and the distal end of the-jaw there is formed in surface 26 a small semicircular depression 32 whose purpose is more fully described hereinafter. The outer tip portion of jaw 24 has a series of shallow grooves 34 which are disposed to grip-the wire when the wire is to be held by and at thejaw ends.

Between groove 28 and the pivot joint 18 there is formed in this jaw a portion of a male conical shape which provides a die form 38 whose larger diameter and protrusion is nearer the jaw pivot point. This die form '38 as it protrudes is only a small segment of a whole conical configuration and as reduced to practice this segment extends above surface 24 about one-sixteenth inch and is about three-eighths of an inch wide at its greater rear extent. From this rear extent or termination the die form 38 extends a little more than one-half an inch whereat it merges with surface 26.

As seen in FIG. 6 this jaw 24 is more-or-less U- shaped to provide a smooth yet strong jaw construction. The sides of the jaw are m ore-or-less parallel and at substantially right angles to the surface 26.

In FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 is seen the details ofjaw 50 which is an integral continuation of member 16. This jaw cooperates with jaw 24 to provide the desired manipulation, bending and/or straightening of the arch wire to be formed. Jaw 50, as depicted, is generally tapered from its pivotal retention at and by pin 18 to its distal end. This jaw has a generally flat surface 52 into which are formed semicircular grooves 54 and 56 which are mirror images of grooves 28 and 30 of jaw 24. These grooves 54 and 56 are spaced from the common pivot pin 18 so as to exactly mate with grooves 28 and 30 when the jaws 24 and .50 are closed. The lengths of grooves 54 and 56 are substantially, if not precisely, equal to the corresponding lengths of grooves 28 and 30.

Formed in the flat surface 52 of jaw 50 is a female conically shaped die form 60 which, as formed, is a small segment or portion of a conical form. As with die 38 in jaw 24 this die form 60 has its greatest extent nearer the jaw pivot point and from this end extends forwardly and upwardly until it terminates at surface 5 2 at a point which is about or a little more than one-half inch toward the distal end of the jaw. This female die form or recess is made with a radius which is a little greater than the like radius of a mating part of die form 38. The radius difference at any particular mating portion of the dies is substantially equal to the wire thickness usually used as the arch wireform member. This wire diameter is often about sixteen-thousandths of an inch.

Forwardly or outwardly of groove 56 the jaw 50 is formed with three circular cross sections identified as 62, 64 and 65. These circular sections as shown are successively smaller in diameter with these diameters providing means for forming commonly used diameters. Of course, more-or-less diameters may be provided on jaw 50 as desired.

USE OF THE TOOL OF FIGS. 1 7

As assembled and reduced to practice the plier-type tool of this invention provides jaw portions 24 and 50 which are disposed to be closed on an arch wire enabling the wire to be bent to provide open and/or closed loops. These loops are conventionally U-shaped or may be a spiral wound complete circle. In addition to these loops the tempered wire is conventionally bent into a determined curvature for installation in the usual manner. Grooves 28-54 and 30-56 are employed to grip and retain the tempered wire which is being formed into loop portions of the arch member. These grooves permit open U-shaped loops having predetermined leg lengths to be formed in a conventional manner. Closed circular loops of selected diameters are formed around sections 62, 64 and 66. The recess 32 in jaw 24 permits closed loops to be made around section 62 without causing unwanted flat spots in the loops being formed.

When the determined number and configured loops are formed the wire is bent into the desired arch. This is easily accomplished by using mating die portions 38 and 60. These dies enable the tempered wire to be formed into the desired curve or semicircle with ease and precision. The required larger curve or curves are formed progressively in the wire to provide the desired final configuration. The jaws and portions 38 and 60 are alternately opened and closed to bend small portions of the wire to the curve of the dies.

ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 8 and 9 Referring finally to the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 the plier-type unit of FIG. 1 has been altered so that its jaws are extended a short distance to provide an additional space between die forms 38 and 60 and the pivot portion of the jaws now identified as 124 and 150. In this additional space is mounted hardened tool steel or carbide inserts 80 and 82 arranged to provide a shear-type wire cutting means. As depicted, the insert 80 has a depending portion disposed to just slide by the right end of insert 82 as seen in FIG. 9. This wire cutting means on this pliertype tool eliminates the necessity of the orthodontist from laying down the wire forming tool to secure a cutting toolfor cutting the arch wire to a corrected length.

It is contemplated that this plier-type tool whose jaw portions are made of a hardened steel which may be a stainless type material will, however, have the wire cutting portions 80 and 82 made of very hard material adapted to shear cut the tempered wire and with this cutting being performed for hundreds of occurrences.

Whether the plier-type tools above-described are plated or otherwise finished it is contemplated that they will be adapted for cleaning in normal sterilizing apparatussThe jaw portions 24, 50, 124 and 150 are heat treated or otherwise made of a material which will permit repeated wire grasping and bending and forming without undue wear or deformation of the jaws. The pivot construction and handle configuration depicted is merely a matter of selection and is'notto be considered restrictive. The construction of the tool must provide the male and female die forms 38 and 60 in a plier-type tool whether the tool is or is without a wire cutting means.

Terms such as left, right", up, down", bottom, top", front, back, in", out, clockwise and the like are applicable to the embodiments shown and described in conjunction with the drawing. These terms are merely for the purposes of description and do not necessarily apply to the position in which the plier-type orthodontist wire bending tool may be constructed or used.

While a particular embodiment of the plier-type tool and an alternate embodiment has been shown and described it is to be understood the invention is not limited thereto and protection is sought to the broadest extent the prior art allows.

What is claimed is:

1. A plier-type tool for orthodontists and the like and adapted for bending and forming tempered wire such as for arch wires and the like, said tool including: (a) a pair of plier members each having a handle and a jaw portion, said members retained in a pivotal relationship by a pivot pin, said plier members selectively movable from an open to a closed condition by manipulation of the handle portions of the members; (b) a generally larger jaw portion formed in each jaw and extending from the pivotpin to a mid portion from which the jaw tapers toward the distal end thereof, said larger portion of each jaw having their facing portions generally planar and adapted to meet when the pliers are in a closed condition; (c) at least one transverse wire retaining groove formed in each of the planar surfaces of the jaw portions, said grooves disposed at a generally right angle to the center line of the jaw, said grooves cooperatively shaped and positioned so as to mate with the other groove when the jaws are closed and in this groove to grip a wire and define a straight length retaining means as the wire is formed into a loop; (d) a circular cross-sectional portion formed on one jaw and providing at least two substantially different diameter circular mandrels for forming circular configurations and loops in the wire; (e) a male conically shaped die form comprising an exterior segment portion of said conical form, this die portion disposed in a tapered attitude and extending a small distance above the planar surface of the generally larger jaw portion of one of the jaws, and (f) a female conically shaped die form comprising an exterior segment portion of said conical form, this die portion disposed in a tapered attitude and extending a small distance below the planar surface of the generally larger jaw portion of the other of the jaws, the female die form disposed in a cooperative position with said male form and with the radius of the female form sufficiently greater than the male form to permit a wire of determined diameter to be bent to a curve having a radius of at least a half an inch without deforming the wire.

2. An orthodontists plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 1 in which the conically-shaped die form segments have their greatest extent disposed toward the pivot pin with the conically-shaped portions diminishing to the planar surface at a point midway of the jaw and toward the distal end.

3. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 1 in which the conically-shaped die forms have a diameter of at least 1 inch and with the male portion having a greatest extent above the planar surface of about one-sixteenth inch, a width of about three-eighths of an inch and a length of about one-half inch.

4. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 1 in which there are at least two transverse wire retaining grooves formed in the planar surface of the greater portion of the jaws, said jaws being stepped in width and with a groove formed in each width so as to provide transverse gripping grooves of different lengths.

5. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arc wires as in claim 1 in which the jaws are provided with complementary wire cutting means enablin g the wire to be cut both before and after forming.

6. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 5 in which the wire cutting means are hardened inserts secured to and carried by the jaws so as to provide a shear cut of the wire.

7. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 1 in which the circular cross sectional jaw portion is made with at least three adjacent different diameters having a common surface at the surface facing the other jaw.

8. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 7 in which the face portion of the jaw opposite the circular cross sectional portion has a shallow partly circular recess which mates with the circular cross-section to grip without deformation a wire being formed into a circular loop.

I? i i i 

1. A plier-type tool for orthodontists and the like and adapted for bending and forming tempered wire such as for arch wires and the like, said tool including: (a) a pair of plier members each having a handle and a jaw portion, said members retained in a pivotal relationship by a pivot pin, said plier members selectively movable from an open to a closed condition by manipulation of the handle portions of the members; (b) a generally larger jaw portion formed in each jaw and extending from the pivot pin to a mid portion from which the jaw tapers toward the distal end thereof, said larger portion of each jaw having their facing portions generally planar and adapted to meet when the pliers are in a closed condition; (c) at least one transverse wire retaining groove formed in each of the planar surfaces of the jaw portions, said grooves disposed at a generally right angle to the center line of the jaw, said grooves cooperatively shaped and positioned so as to mate with the other groove when the jaws are closed and in this groove to grip a wire and define a straight length retaining means as the wire is formed into a loop; (d) a circular cross-sectional portion formed on one jaw and providing at least two substantially different diameter circular mandrels for forming circular configurations and loops in the wire; (e) a male conically shaped die form comprising an exterior segment portion of said conical form, this die portion disposed in a tapered attitude and extending a small distance above the planar surface of the generally larger jaw portion of one of the jaws, and (f) a female conically shaped die form comprising an exterior segment portion of said conical form, this die portion disposed in a tapered attitude and extending a small distance below the planar surface of the generally larger jaw portion of the other of the jaws, the female die form disposed in a cooperative position with said male form and with the radius of the female form sufficiently greater than the male form to permit a wire of determined diameter to be bent to a curve having a radius of at least a half an inch without deforming the wire.
 2. An orthodontists plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 1 in which the conically-shaped die form segments have their greatest extent disposed toward the pivot pin with the conically-shaped portions diminishing to the planar surface at a point midway of the jaw and toward the distal end.
 3. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 1 in which the conically-shaped die forms have a diameter of at least 1 inch and with the male portion having a greatest extent above the planar surface of about one-sixteenth inch, a width of about three-eighths of an inch and a length of about one-half inch.
 4. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 1 in which there are at least two transverse wire retaining grooves formed in the planar surface of the greater portion of the jaws, said jaws being stepped in width and with a groove formed in each width so as to provide transverse gripping grooves of different lengths.
 5. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 1 in which the jaws are provided with complementary wire cutting means enabling the wire to be cut both before and after forming.
 6. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 5 in which the wire cutting means are hardened inserts secured to and carried by the jaws so as to provide a shear cut of the wire.
 7. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 1 in which the circular cross sectional jaw portion is made with at least three adjacent different diameters having a common surface at the surface facing the other jaw.
 8. An orthodontist plier-type tool for bending arch wires as in claim 7 in which the face portion of the jaw opposite the circular cross sectional portion has a shallow partly circular recess which mates with the circular cross-section to grip without deformation a wire being formed into a circular loop. 